Where to enjoy a completely different experience for your Christmas celebrations

By Rachelle Unreich

December 13, 2017 — 5.12pm

Granted, there are certain elements you want to have at every Christmas celebration. Santa-themed somethings. Red-and-green hues. An aunt/co-worker/friend who'll say something so profound or so wacky, you'll be dining out on it for most of 2018. But for every Christmas expectation, there's still room for the unexpected and unique. Here's where to find it in Melbourne.

THE COOLEST PARTY VENUE-SLASH-GIFT EXPERIENCE

Notel, the Airstream caravan hotel that's situated on a city rooftop.

No doubt you've seen it on some influencer's Instagram page: the eye-poppingly brilliant Airstream caravan hotel that's situated on a city rooftop, surrounded by pink-graffiti painted buildings. The best thing about booking one of these 1970s Airstreams for the night is that you get all the comfort of a hotel (queen-size bed, en suite bathroom, Netflix and, in the case of the Airstream with Benefits, an outdoor spa) and a completely out-there adventure. Perfect gift? Yes, especially since even accessing it requires stealth and detective skills. (The single door entry is hidden inside the downstairs eatery, and guests need a code for their smartphone that they swipe to get in.) But, here's another secret: Notel can also be booked as a party venue, with catering by Blake's Feast. You don't have to bring in any decor – it's wildly beautiful already – but marquees and furniture can be set up for the occasion. notelmelbourne.com.au

THE OFFICE BONDING SESSION

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Section 8 is holding its annual Orphan's Christmas.

At The Mystery Rooms, one can put aside that burbling office tension in order to partner up with a colleague and solve an interactive puzzle. This is the escape room concept taken to the next level; while escape rooms involve groups being given a scenario (you're a prisoner in jail!) and locked into a room (which lead into further spaces once you figure out assorted clues), Mystery Rooms bring another element into the mix: laughter. Owner Tom Hudson explains that "people enjoy stories and letting go and immersing themselves into different worlds. At our bespoke venue, we decided we'd like to tell a story. It's built for adults, but it's family friendly as well. We'd noticed that escape rooms had a repetition of dark horror themes – it's a very primitive sensory experience to scare people. But it's not so easy to make them laugh and smile." You can trek to Ancient Egypt (where that space utilises seven tonnes of sand), venture to Camelot, or re-live Australia in the time of Ned Kelly (complete with Pentridge prison door at its entrance). The final chapter in the four stories – centring around the Snow Queen and her planned invasion of earth – feels very White Christmassy, at least visually. themysteryrooms.com.au

Or, if you're not a team player: consider buying someone (or yourself) a Christmas gift to be part of Alone, run by a performance group from LA whose brand of participatory theatre is in Melbourne in February 2018. Ticket-holders are summoned to a secret address and their phones are taken from them; they then have to follow directions given to them in a variety of ways, whether it's from a person on the street or via earphones handed to them. Oh, you might be chased down a dark alleyway, too. Scary? You betcha. Alone? That's the point. Half of the fun is working out whether those you meet on the mean streets are in on the secret or not. (LA Weekly called it "A stroke of evil genius.") Youngsters – and high heels – not allowed, and it runs for 60 minutes. Brought to you by Jerome Borazio, the brainchild behind St Jerome's – The Hotel. aloneexperience.com.au

THE NO-BRAINER BASH

Who doesn't like a movie? Drinking? Melbourne rooftops? All of the aforementioned are combined when you hire out a space at the retro-feel movie house, Lido Cinemas. For something less formal, its downstairs jazz room, tucked underneath a cinema screen, has live music every Friday and Saturday. If you've always wanted to spend Christmas with Hugh Jackman, there's a double bonanza: watch him playing P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman on the rooftop on December 25, or in the cinema on Boxing Day. lidocinemas.com.au

Combine friend-gathering with some R&R with the hilltop pool at Peninsula Hot Springs.

To combine friend-gathering with some R&R, the Peninsula Hot Springs offers a Clay Ridge experience for groups, wherein therapeutic clay powder is mixed with geothermal water to create a detoxifying clay. Or, in simpler terms, you get to mud fight with your pals and call it skin therapy. peninsulahotsprings.com

THE GATHERING THEY'LL TALK ABOUT FOR YEARS

Book out a private room for your guests at Joanie's Baretto.

For friends who'd like to do something different, and who also know that all artwork is better if created under the influence of Christmas drinks, Cheeky Drawing holds life drawing classes in Hawthorn, or they can come to your party and instruct. (Themed packages extend beyond drawing; you can throw in some Bollywood dancing for good measure.) cheekydrawing.com.au

There's mini-golf, and then there's the Holey Moley course in the city, which takes crazy putt-putt courses to another level. Is there an upside-down room with furniture on the roof? Check. Can you put a golf ball into a pinball machine and play with that? Check. Even your bored-with-everything mates will be amused by this, and if not, the fully licensed cocktail bar serves up drinks. Gourmet pizza and canapes are available too and – happy days – there's a karaoke room. holeymoley.com.au

Fashion-minded mates will enjoy Jill Humphries' millinery workshop, which she can host for a small group at her studio, or come to your corporate space when more people are involved. Imagine rocking up to your Christmas dinner wearing a bejewelled, feather Dior-inspired headband? Yes, please. Email: jill@jillandjackmillinery.com

THE HOME ALONE CHRISTMAS

Get a group together to create your own headpieces with a Jill Humphries' millinery workshop.Credit:Craig Sillitoe CSZ

Solitude's a fine thing, but company on Christmas is better. Everyone – orphans, newcomers, expats, migrants, students – of any faith are invited to a BYO Christmas picnic (no need to be someone who even celebrates Christmas). Hosted by Newcomers Network (a social enterprise started by Sue Ellson), it expects 70-200 people to attend, and the main must-brings are food, picnic blankets and a name tag. It's held at Queen Victoria Gardens, noon-3pm. It's been successful beyond those few hours: two people once met there, married and had a baby. christmasdaybyopicniclunchmelbourne.eventbrite.com.au

For those who want something guaranteed to go late, Section 8 is once again holding its annual Orphan's Christmas. This city beer garden, which always seems to provide a good time thanks to its low-maintenance approach (seats are wooden shipping palettes), has a BBQ running from noon until 6pm, with entertainment running the entire time until close (11pm). DJs playing feel-good tracks include Sleazy Roots, VLAD and King Delicious, plus it's free entry. section8.com.au

THE FEEL-GOOD FESTIVITY

It's the season for giving, of course, and it's hard to ignore so many going without. DIYers can create a New Day Box on someone's behalf. The idea is to fill an old shoebox with new skincare, cosmetics and treats to go to women in family violence accommodation in Victoria. Work out how to get involved at newdaybox.org

Mycause's managing director Tania Burstin recalls that "rather than spending $20 per person in an office, a client created a mycause page for a staff member with an unwell child. The Kris Kringle money was all given to the family, and the company matched each dollar. Another company created a mycause page and asked for $15 per person to buy a homeless person a Christmas lunch." mycause.com.au

For gifts that help a cause, Mimco has collaborated with Ethical Fashion Initiative – its Unite Basket was hand-woven by 15 community groups in Kenya, while the Indi-Go-Go Jewellery is part of the same initiative, helping artisans in marginalised communities. mimco.com.au And Mecca Cosmetica supports The Hunger Project, which educates poor women in rural villages across the globe. All of the proceeds from its Helping Hands Hand Cream Duo directly benefit The Hunger Project Australia. mecca.com.au

A (PARTY) ROOM OF ONE'S OWN

It can be pricey to hire out a venue, but a private dining room is far more doable. Yagiz in South Yarra has just launched its own, and can whip up a Christmas dinner, or office get-together. With 24 hours' notice, head chef-owner Murat Ovaz will cook up a whole-roasted Bultarra Saltbush lamb, alongside a modern Turkish banquet. yagiz.com.au Upstairs at Prahran's Neptune restaurant, there's cocktail bar Impala, which is best known for its whisky varieties. Hire out that space, or slip into one of the banquettes at Neptune, which feel private. impala.melbourne and neptune.melbourne At Joanie's Baretto in Thornbury, a slice of Little Italy awaits – and use of its upstairs bar for up to 60 people. joaniesbaretto.com.au Neighbourhood Wine is the kind of place that makes you feel like a regular, even if you're not from Fitzroy North; its private room features an antique table and can seat 12 (or squish 14) for a long lunch or a sharing-plate dinner. neighbourhoodwine.com Hold your get-together at a venue no one's been to yet: the new Palermo restaurant, by the team behind San Telmo and Pastuso, introduces Argentinean BBQ to paleo-lovers. The private dining room has a wall of wine bottles to get the party started.

A next-level party for just a few people can be created at a relatively low-level cost by hiring one of the Happy Glamper tents for your own glamping (that's glamorous camping for the uninitiated) experiences. The firm can pitch it at any site you want, including your backyard, provided you have the room – although it recommends the Mornington Peninsula as its go-to locations. The tent can be themed for Christmas – with some Christmas star lights, grape vine wreath and mistletoe at the entrance. BYO mince pies. happyglamper.com.au

For something glamping and urban, St Jerome's – The Hotel can cater to small groups during the day where you could have access to its decked-out teepees. The venue is happy to tailor the experience to make it personal and unique. stjeromesthehotel.com.au

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CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

We don't provide snow here in Melbourne-town. But we do know how to put on a good show. Santa Sleigh Karaoke is held every day in the Be Present Snow Dome in Federation Squareup until Christmas Eve. Visitors can sing a Christmas carol with Santa in a giant snow dome, and film a video (in conjunction with the TAC) to remind people to stay safe these holidays. From 11am every day until December 24. Email Jessica.norridge@graffiti.com.au for more information. Speakeasy HQ's Vaudeville Theatre offers some good Christmas camp via I'm Dreaming of A Cabaret Christmas (its annual cabaret and vaudeville revue) and Booze and Music Power Hour, the Christmas edition (featuring a re-working of some post-modern Jukebox Christmas songs). Speakeasy-HQ.com And on December 20 from 4-8pm, QV Melbourne rings in the silly season with DJ Chango Phat, with Schnitz serving up free chips to those at The After Bar. qv.com.au